Al-Shehri Mohamed A, Abolfotouh Mostafa A, Dalak Mohamed A, Nwoye Luke D
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2005 Apr;26(4):560-5.
To study the anthropometric parameters of Southwestern Saudi newborns in Abha (a high altitude area) and Baish (a sea level area of Southwestern Saudi Arabia); to compare these parameters with those of the United States Center for Disease Control 2000 growth charts and to estimate the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) among the study population.
The study sample included all births from Abha Central Hospital (N=4300), and all births from Baish General Hospital (N=1200), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from January 2001 to January 2003. Only term births (>37-42 weeks gestation) were included. The anthropometric measurements included birthweight, crown-heel length and head circumference. The head circumference (occipitofrontal) was measured to the nearest 5 mm with an inelastic tape. Babies of LBW were identified. Low birth weight was defined as <2,500 gms at birth. Ponderal index (PI) was calculated using the formula of birthweight (in grams) x 100/length3.
Saudi newborns are lighter and shorter than those of National Center for Health Statistics newborns. The same finding was evident for head circumference. Newborns from Abha are lighter (p<0.001) and shorter (p<0.001) than from Baish. However, this difference was not significant for head circumference (p=0.53). Abha newborns showed significantly lower mean weight (2845.4 gms versus 2951.8 gms, t=58, p<0.001), and lower mean length (48.1 cm versus 48.5 cm, t=4.65, p<0.001). Low birth weight was prevalent among 24.6% of all newborns. This figure was significantly higher among newborns from Abha (25.7%) than its counterpart in Baish (20.7%), p<0.001. A strong positive correlation between the PI and birthweight (p<0.0001, R2=0.52), after adjusting for the place of birth was evident.
Neonates of Southwestern Saudi Arabia are significantly lighter and shorter than those of the reference population, as well as neonates in other areas of the Kingdom, with prevalent LBW especially in high altitude area, possibly due to intra-uterine growth retardation of secondary type. Ponderal index is significantly associated with birth weight even after adjusting for gender and place of birth. This might encourage the use of PI as an alternative to birth weight especially when gestational age is not available.
研究沙特阿拉伯西南部阿卜哈（一个高海拔地区）和拜什（沙特阿拉伯西南部的一个海平面地区）新生儿的人体测量参数；将这些参数与美国疾病控制中心2000年生长图表的参数进行比较，并估计研究人群中低出生体重（LBW）的发生率。
研究样本包括2001年1月至2003年1月期间沙特阿拉伯王国阿卜哈中心医院的所有出生婴儿（N = 4300）以及拜什综合医院的所有出生婴儿（N = 1200）。仅纳入足月出生（妊娠>37 - 42周）的婴儿。人体测量包括出生体重、顶臀长度和头围。头围（枕额径）使用无弹性卷尺测量至最接近的5毫米。确定低出生体重儿。低出生体重定义为出生时体重<2500克。使用出生体重（克）×100/身长³的公式计算 ponderal 指数（PI）。
沙特新生儿比美国国家卫生统计中心的新生儿更轻、更矮。头围也有同样的发现。阿卜哈的新生儿比拜什的新生儿更轻（p<0.0０1）、更矮（p<0.0０1）。然而，头围方面的差异不显著（p =０.53）。阿卜哈新生儿的平均体重显著更低（2845.4克对2951.8克，t = 5８，p<0.0０1），平均长度也更低（48.1厘米对48.5厘米，t = 4.65，p<0.0０1）。所有新生儿中24.6%为低出生体重。阿卜哈新生儿中的这一比例（25.7%）显著高于拜什（20.7%），p<0.0０1。在调整出生地点后，PI与出生体重之间存在强正相关（p<0.0０01，R² = 0.52）。
沙特阿拉伯西南部的新生儿比参考人群以及沙特王国其他地区的新生儿明显更轻、更矮，低出生体重普遍存在，尤其是在高海拔地区，可能是由于继发性宫内生长迟缓。即使在调整性别和出生地点后，ponderal指数与出生体重也显著相关。这可能会促使在无法获得胎龄时，将PI作为出生体重的替代指标使用。
